Daily Inspiration: Meet Cathy Cao

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cathy Cao.

Hi Cathy, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Before moving to the U.S., I was living in Beijing, China, where I began creating short-form video content around 2019. I focused primarily on travel vlogs, documenting my experiences as I visited different parts of the world and sharing them on Chinese social media platforms.

From late 2019 through 2021, things became more serious as I was scouted by influencer agencies and began expanding my content beyond travel to include fashion recommendations, lifestyle content, and everyday life sharing. My account gradually grew to over 300K followers at its peak, and I had the opportunity to work on a variety of brand partnerships with companies such as OPPO, Condé Nast, SONY, and more.

While I loved what I was doing and felt incredibly grateful for the chance to explore the influencer space, I knew I ultimately wanted to pursue a career in music. I’ve always been a musician, and I felt drawn to finding my place within the music industry.

Long story short, I made the decision to move to New York, completed a degree in Music Business at NYU, and step by step arrived at where I am today, working as a Social Media & Creative Content Specialist at Symphonic, a leading music distribution company. In this role, I combine my passion for content creation with my knowledge of music, creating engaging content that shares music industry insights and showcases our company culture, all while supporting independent artists.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road—far rougher than it might appear to most people. While many associate the “influencer life” with glamour, the reality of creating content while managing unstable income, and constantly staying in “output mode” without enough time to absorb new experiences can be far more draining than it seems.

The media landscape also changes at an incredibly fast pace. Keeping up with trends, adapting to videos becoming shorter and shorter, and shifting from horizontal to vertical formats as platforms evolve were all major challenges on their own.

When I decided to shift my focus toward finding something bigger—something that truly aligned with my passion—it required countless experiments, networking, and moments of self-doubt. It took time to find a position where I could bring together what I love, what I do best, what I know, what I believe in, and where I want to go, all in one place.

On top of everything, I was navigating life in a foreign country and starting over from zero. Building a support system in a new place wasn’t easy, which makes me even more grateful today that I get to live a life aligned with who I am and what I value.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Now, I’m probably best known as the “Symphonic girl” in the music industry—haha—as I consistently create on-camera content for Symphonic, a leading music distribution company that supports independent artists in distributing and marketing their music globally.

My current title at Symphonic is Social Media & Creative Content Specialist.

In this role, I create fun and informative content for independent artists through Symphonic. I produce short-form videos across Symphonic’s social platforms, which collectively reach an audience of over 185K across Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and more. My content ranges from behind-the-scenes vlogs that offer a peek into the music industry to educational pieces that break down music royalties, marketing strategies, and other aspects that help artists grow.

Beyond on-camera content, I also manage Symphonic’s social channels and publish content across various formats and topics in alignment with our content strategy, working closely as part of the Corporate Marketing team.

What sets me apart—and what I’m most proud of in this role—is the ability to use both my creative lens and my business mindset to deliver work that drives growth for the company while genuinely supporting independent artists. As a musician and artist myself, this mission is something I care about deeply and wholeheartedly.

It’s incredibly fulfilling to help build a community through my work every day, while also finding a strong sense of belonging for myself in the process.

What are your plans for the future?
Ooooo, I love that you asked! I definitely feel a big change coming in 2026. My goal this year is to focus on my own music and, hopefully, release it fully under my artist persona.

I think this shift will be incredibly exciting, though I’m also a little intimidated by the idea. Music means so much to me that I naturally hold myself to very high standards, especially now that I actively work in the music industry, where I can’t help but evaluate myself through a business lens as well. But that’s what makes it even more interesting, right?

I love a good challenge, and this has been my dream ever since I was a kid. I’m genuinely excited to discover what it will feel like to navigate life with a dual identity, continuing my current role while also stepping into my identity as an artist, publicly. I believe the two will go hand in hand, which feels really beautiful to imagine.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cathy_cho/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathy-cho/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Cathy_Cho
• Other: https://www.instagram.com/symphonicdistro/

Image Credits
for the 3 professional press shots in pink hair – Photographer: Yukai Chen